Sprinkler apparatus



F. E. ROACH SPRINKLER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 20. 1925.

F. E. ROACH SPRINKLER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 2 7 5 w "0 1| M, ,2 I a s M a 7% 1 W 5 a 5 "W i VJ 1 3 A ,0 wvv wvw arrangement of the cut-off charge pipe to the nozzle,

. the provision Patented Jan. 20, 1925 UNITED TES FINIS E. aoAorr. or CHICAGO, rumor SPRINKLER APPARATUS.

Application filed January 3, 1922. Serial No, 526,473.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FINIS E. RoAoE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sprinkler Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to sprinkling apparatus, and particularly to that type in which the nozzle is given a slow rotary motion in order that the sprinkling device may distribute the water to a comparatively large area, and in which automatically op' erating means are provided for shutting off the flowof water to the nozzle and stopping the rotation of the device at the end of any predetermined amount of rotation of the nozzle.

-One of the features of the invention is of an automatically operated valve timing device which is actuated solely by the water flowing through the sprinkler apparatus, and which. is capable of being set so as to shut off the water at the end of a desired number of revolutions or at the end of any desired of the nozzle.

Another feature of the invention is the valve in the diswhich upon closure, acts to definitely stop the flow of water from the nozzle and incidentally stops the rotation of the nozzle.

Another feature is the provision of an improved structure which permits the cut-off valve to be actuated, due to the pressure of water in the apparatus.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the device progresses.

In the drawings which illustrate one form of the device:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the outside of'the complete sprinkler device;

"Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 12 2 of Figure 1, looking upwardly;

, Figu re 3 is a cross sectional view on the 1 line-3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure lis a vertical section showing the structure of the shut-ofl valve;

re 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

.move during the s fraction of a revolution Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-45 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fi ure 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Before giving a detail description of the device, a general description of the operation of the arrangement will be given. The water under pressure enters the base af the sprinkler receptacle and acts on a spider or star wheel to cause rotation of the star wheel. The sprinkler base and receptacle are stationary in the sense that they do not one area althoug moved to sprinkle This operation is quite similar to the operation of the usual water turbine. arrie by the star wheel is a shaft provided with a worm gear which operates through reducing mechanism to cause a slow rotation of the the sprinkler may be rinkling operation in any different areas as desired.

portion of the sprinkler upon which the nozzle and related parts are mounted. The timing element of the nozzle is set by the operator grasping the nozzle and depressing it and then rotating it a fraction 0 revolutions, as de-,

lution, or a plurality of sired, thus causing a .fixed lug to trave around'in the threads of the timing device. Between the timing device which carries the nozzle and the gear mechanism previously referred to, there is a friction engagement which permits-the longitudinal and rotary movement of the timing device, but whic normally causes the timing device and nozzle to rotate with the last element of the reducing train of gearing. Now assuming that the timing device has been setas above explained, and water is flowing through the sprinkler, a gradual rotary motion of the timing device and valve of the nozzle will take place. When this timing device and the nozzle thereon have rotated a suflicient distance to cause the fixed lug to travel back to the end of the spiral groove or thread in which it was moved during the setting operation, the timing device and the shut-off valve carried thereby will be released and the water pressure within the sprinkler receptacle will cause the valve to seat and thus cut off the water from the sprinkler nozzle.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates the bottom of the stationary basinlike sprinkler receptacle, which is provided. about its outer circumference with the up-' means of theserews "17,- isstanding" annular. flange Integral with:

inlet nipple 12 jprovid way 13- which opens at terror of the s rinkl flange. l1 1 t one side ":thei eof is the usual hose coupling-.1", I p

The bottom' 1Q-,.o f the receptacle 1:; pro.- videdat its central portionwith the screwthreaded' opening 15 within 'whi ch'is screwed the cap bearing member-16 -Securedto' the flange '11' at t 18. The, plate 18 is a llat circular plate rovided on one side thereof with the raised 'ousing 19, which preferably is inte ral with the remainder" of the cover I p ate 18.

Formed ini'the upper wall of the housing didire ly ppo i the plate 10 is a screw-threads Shaft '22 hast-itsopposite ends received in the bearing-'s ldand 20, respectively, and

adjacent its lower end is provided with the worm 27. The housing 19 is provided in member 36 is'the Integral- With the sleeve its opposite sidewalls with the cap bearings 28 and 29 which receive the opposite ends respectively of the shaft 30. Rigidly se cured'to t nuts. 31 and 32 screw-. threaded on the shaft, is the worm gear 33 which is arranged to mesh with the worm 27 on the shaft 22; The-shaft 30 at its end remote from the wornieat 33 is provided with a worm 34-.

The ousing '19- is surface, as seen in Figure-3,- with a cylinderl'ikemember 36. Spaced from the outer por: tion of the lower end of the cylinder-like sleeve 37. Sleeve 37v is rovided at .its upper edge with the inward- 'yextending flange 38, arranged between the end of the collar-39'which is screw-threaded on the member 36, and the inner surface ofthe upperportion of the housing 19. Thus "the sleeve 37 is rotatable about the member '36, but is prevented from longitudinal movement by its flange. 38.

37 and extending outwardly therefrom is the worm gear 40 which is arranged to mesh with on the shaft 30. Thus it will be seen that the water rushing into the sprinkler reccp-.

tacle through the opening 13 will cause the turbine spider 26 to revolve, and, through the train of gearing, including shaft 22, worm 27, Worth Wheel 33, shaft 30, worm within which is; positioned the packingrin "4301 felt onzanyjgother suitable materia f e upper edgethere'of, as

the cover plate the the opening 15 in? opening 20 within which is'screwed the cap bearing 21.-

"the openings between members 48 and into spider 26 having the It is to be.

e shaft 30, as by means of the provided in its upper v the worm 34 3 and n -g r the ,c'ollar-gwill' a1.

caused to slowly rotate about the'member gidlyzsecured tothe collar 37,'and pref--- e lrin s a ownw rdl' gextendlng spring fingers '41; 's, proyidedat'its lower end withthe' inftu ed flange-42. .The flange 42' andthe end' of themember 36 form a space Flange'42 actsto inaintai i the'packin ring 43 in position, yet -leaves "the inner e ge of acking ring uncovered so. that it may be irectlymengaged by the'inovab'le member of the shut-otf valve;

Slidablyand also, rotatably. arranged- .withinthe member 36 is the c linder-like member 46, Member 46 is 'provi' ed with "an enlarged head 47 at the lower end thereof, which is secured to-the cylinder 46'by means of the tie members 48 (see Figure 4) Thus it will be obvious that water under pressure in the sprinkler receptacle may pass through the spring fingers 41, then through the openings between theftie the opening through the centerof the member 46. v

' The member 46, adjacent to its upper end, is provided with the screw threads'49, which are arranged to receive cooperating screw threads on the inlet branch 50 of. a nozzle 52. The, branch'50 communicates with an angular-1y extending member 52. The member 52 is'provided with screw threads at 53, with which co-operates the screw-threaded portion 54 on the nozzle opening controlling member 55. lhe rear end of the member 55 is provided with a knurled hand-piece 56 by means of which the member rotated to .cause the enlarged portion 57 of the nozzle controlling member 55 to approach or recede from the nozzle opening 58. The member 52, at the rear of the screw-threaded portion 53, is formed with l the recess 59, within which is positioned the coil spring 60. The nozzle contr lling. mem-, ber 55 is provided with a shoulder 61 and the spring is arranged to be compressed between the shoulder 61 and the .end ofthe 1 ()0. threaded portions are kept in firm engagement by the spring 60, the leakage of water between the n'iembers past the screwthre'aded. portions is also very much reduced.

-The inlet portion 50 of the nozzle-is providod ondiametrically opposite sides with thelugs or bosses 62 and 63. An opening 64 is formed through the bOfnliilQ and substantially through the boss 63, as by drilling. 1

therewith, is a'plurality of 55 may be i 64' and 65 are but also a pair ing.

' tion to The outer end of the boss 62 may then be plugged up in any manner. Slots then formed in the forward portions of the lugs 62 and 63, as by saw- These slots 64' and 65 communicate with the opening 64, which, in turn, communicates with the opening through the inlet member 50. Thus the water un er premure in the sprinkler receptacle not onlypasses l0 out through the space between the nozzle opening 58 and the adjusting member 57, of fish tail sprays pass from the openings 64' and 65, respectively. This arrangement tends to insure that the spray from the nozzle will all be directed away from the sprinkler device. Thus the user can handle the sprayer with little danger of being wet.

permit the water to pass to the nozzle, Wlll be in the position, such asindicated in Figure 4,-that is, it will be in its lower position.

The automatic shutoff and timing means will now be described. The cylinder-like member 36 is provided with the inwardly extending lug 66. vThe member 46-is provided with the screw-threaded portion 67 j and two slots 68 and 69, which are formed-- face of the member 46 and,

in the outer sur communicate with the threaded portion 67; Thus, when the member 46 is inserted from below, 36, the lug 66 may be caused to pass through the slot 68 to the screw-threaded portion 67 Then, by rotating the member 46, thelug 66 will pass around through the threads of the threaded portion 67 until the longitudinally extending slot 69 at the end of the last thread is reached. Then the member 46 may be moved upwardly into the position shown in Figure 3. In this position, 70 will engage the packing ring 43 and close the opening through to the spray nozzle. if the nozzle is grasped by the operator and forced downwardly so as to cause the'lug 66 to-engage the screw-threaded portion 67, and the associated part is then rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the lug 66 will enter the first thread of the screw-threaded portion 67 and the screw-threaded portion may be moved around over the lug until the lug is positioned any desired fraction or. number of turns from the slot 69. As long as the lug 66 is in engagement with the screw-threaded portion 67, the member 46 will be maintained in its lowered position, such as shown in Figure 4, and water will be permitted to flow to the sprinkler nozzle.

The spring fingers. 41, carried by the sleeve 37, are arranged to frictionally engage the enlarged portion 47 carried by the control member 46. The engagement between the fingers 41 and member 47 is such that 46 may be caused to move longitudi The member 46, when in a pos1- 4 under ;,free to moveJlfngitudinally,"'i'it isobviou'e that as soonest as seen in Figure 3, into the member" turbine spider 26 will .stopthe shoulder which water may pass It will now be seen that nally or in a rotary direction by the operator, but, when freed, will be caused to ro tate with the sleeve 37. It will be remembered that the water rushing into the 70 member 46, and the nozzle .5 51 mounted thereon, will be caused toimove-in the same the nozzle-and'attached partsarerotated I manner and direction'as thelsleeve 37 As of the control member, the

in a counter-clockwise direction inorder to set the timing devioe,--'that is, in order to.

cause engagement .of".the--- screw-threaded:

portion 67 with the lug 66, it is obvious that,

when thenozzle is rotated in the clockwise direction,- due to the passa through the eprinkler,,,it will e gradually reach the end of the lowermost threa' longitudinally extending slot 69. As the water withinthej sprmklen-ieceptaole is the; member 46 is pressu e, --an' 1 as he'fi6l reaches the-slot 69, the membe'r 46wil'l lie' moved --upwardlyj by the water, pressurep a d -the, shoulder 70; will engage the packing 43," thus-shut}.

As the water cannow longer flow thr the sprinkler'receptacle,

and thef'deviee will remain in an inactive again set by the operator.

Even when erating in its intended manner, as explained above, the rotary movement of so extremely slow,

of gearing between the spider 26 and the the rotationfoit 0'.

condition .untile of; waterreturned to a position where the lug 66 will I the portion 67, and will, be positionedin the" ting ofi the'w'aterifromthesprinklernozzlelf ms the sprinklerdevice is-op- 3 the nozzle due to-the reducing tram 1 a q collar 37 ,that an observer would find it difli cult to detect any rotary movement'of thew- V nozzle. Therefore, in order that readily determine operating properly,

rovided. 'The cap a pointer or ger 71 is onemay, I that the timingndevice is- U5 bearing 29 for one-end f'r' of the shaft 30 is provided with a central" opening and the shaft 30 is provided at'its adjacent end with a longitudinally extending screw-threaded opening. The finger 71 is secured to the shaft 30, so as to rotate secured to the pointer 71 through the opening in the-bearing cap 29 and securing it firmly into the screw-threaded opening in the shaft 30. Thus, by observing the finger therewith by inserting the screw 7 2 which is It i sevid ent that by'means of the structure above described, the sprinkler may be set so as to spray any desired sector of a lawn or, other surface. Or, if it is desired to give the surface a thorough wetting, the device may be maintained in operation until the sprinkler nozzle has completed a desired number ofrotations. \Vhen, howev r, due to the rotary movement of the nozzl under the influence of the flowing water, the lug 66 enters the slot 69, the pressure of the water will move the member 46 upwardly and immediately shut ofi the water from the tions of the plated.

sprinkler nozzle.

\Vhile, in the drawings, but a. single embodiment of the invention has been dis closed, it is to be'understood that modificapresent embodiment are contem- The train of gearing, 'for'in stance,

may be changed so as to'cha-nge the ratio of speed between the nozzle and the spider, and, in fact, the entire character ofthe reducing gearing may readily-be altered, The member 46'may be proi ided with a greater or less number of threads inthe timing device and various modifications in the details of the shut-off valve and associatedpa-rts will rece tacle P 'nozzle connected to sai 'readil'y suggest themselves to any mechanic. It is, therefore, to be; understood that the invention is to be limited scope of the appended claims. What-I claim is:

1*. a sprinkler apparatus, a stationary a'souree of water under, pressure connected to said rece tacle, a d scharge d receptacle to permit the discharge of water therefrom, a water motor within said receptacle arranged to be operated by .water passing themthrough, means located in said stationary receptacle and operated 1 rotating said iiozzle', a valve for cutting off sure connected to said receptacle,

the flow ofwater tosaid nozzle, and means automatically actuated by said motor for operating said valve after a predetermined degreeof rotation of saiddischarge nozzle.

' 2. In a sprinkler apparatus, a stationary receptacle, a source of Water under presa discharge nozzle, a water motor within said receptacle and arranged bet-ween said, source -of-wate-r and s'aili discharge nozzle, a. train said nozz e is v by said motor, flow of water motor, a rotatable sleeve, reducing be rotated by nozzle, merely by the by said motor for members to ing means whereby said nozzle is rotated by sa d motor. a. Ina sprinkler apparatus, a fixed collar,

a sleeve rotatably mounted on said collar, a:

water motor, gearing between said motor and said sleeve, a discharge nozzle supporting member mounted within said fixed collar, means whereby said supporting member may be rotated by said sleeve,

members on 5. In a sprinkler apparatus, a fixed collar, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said 001- lar, a water -motor, gearing between said motor and said sleeve,'a disch supporting member longitudinally 'and r0- tatably movable within said means whereby said supporting member may said sleeve, a discharge nozzle carried by said supporting member, and cooperating cut-oft valve members on said collar and supporting member respectively.

6. In a. sprinkler apparatus, a rotatablymounted sleeve, port for said therethrough and communicating with a discharge .nozzle, 3, suplongitudinally movable within said sleeve,

a. discharge nozzle carried by said supporting member, and co-operating cut-off valve said collar and supporting memberure'spectivelv.

arge nozzlev fixed collar,-

,nozzlehaving an open 7 ii said support being slldably and a head on said supporting member, members;

carried by said rotatable sleeve arranged to frictionally engage said head, co-operating valve members,

and the other carried by said head, means for maintaining saidvalve members in separatedposition, and means actuated by the rotation of said valve membersto co-operate to shut off the flow of water to said discharge nozzle.

7. In a sprinkler, apparatus, afixed collar, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said 001- lar, a'discharge nozzle, a. support for said nozzle havingan opening therethrough and 1 communicating with said nozzle, said su rt bei -slida-bly' and ion itudinal y ibvable ithin said collar, a heid on said supporting member, members carried by said rotatable sleeve arranged to frictionally engage said head, co-O erating valve members onv said collar and said head, means for maintaining said valve members in separatand means actuated by the rota sleeve for permitting saidvalve 120 ed position, tion of said co-operate to shutoff the flowof water 'to said discharge nozzl one being relatively fixed sleeve for permitting said I 8. In a sprinkler apparatus a discharge nozzle, a support therefor, a fixed collage lug projecting from said collar, acircumferential groove in said support arranged to receive sa1d lug,

valve members on said collar and said sup port, means permitting the movement of. I I

said support to position said lug within. i

said groove, means for automatically ru- 15; a co-operating cut-01f tating said nozzle, and means actuated incident to said lug being moved to a predetermined position within said slot for per collar and said support, means permitting the movement of said support to position said lug within said groove and for. auto- .matically rotating said nozzle, and means actuated incidental to said lug becoming positioned within said slot for permittin said valve members to co-operate to shut o the flow of water to said nozzle.

10. In a sprinkler apparatus, a fixed oollar, a sleeve about said collar, a nozzle support within said collar, co-operating valve members on said collar and said support, a. projection extending inwardly from said collar, a circumferential groove formed in said support, said support being arranged to permit its being rotated to place said projection in said groove whereby said valve members are ma1ntained in separated position, means for rotating said sleeve, and means carried by said sleeve frictionally engaging said support to cause a similar rotation of said support whereby said groove is caused.

to become disengaged from said projection to permit said valve members to assume opv erative position.

11. In a sprinkler apparatus, a fixed collar, a nozzle support longitudinally androtatably movable within said "collar', oo-opcrating valve members on said collar and support, means for maintaining said valve members in separated position, means for rotating said support, and means actuated incident to such rotation forpermittingthe Icg-operative engagement of said valve-mem- I2."In a sprinkler apparatus, .a fixed collar, a nozzle supportlongitudinally and-rotatably movable within said collar, co-opcrating valve 'inembers on said collarand support, co-operating means on said collar andjus'a'id support, free ec'tively, for maintaining said valve mem rs .in separated position, means for rotating said support, an means actuated incident to such rotation-for permitting the co-operative 'engagement of said valve members.

13. Ina sprinkler apparatus, a collar, a

nozzle support within said collar, co-op-' crating valve members on said collar and said support, said valve member on said support being arranged to be actuated by water pressure, a projection extending inwardly from said collar, a circumferential groove in. said support, means permitting the rotation of said support to position said project-ion within said groove whereby said valve members are maintained in separated position, and means for automatically rotating said support whereby said projections will pass out of said groove to permit said .valve members to assume operative relation.

14. In a sprinkler apparatus, a nozzle,

.means for supplying water under pressure to said nozzle, means for rotating said nozzle, a valve for shutting off the flow of water'to said nozzle arranged to be closed by the pressure of Water in the system,

means for holding said valve open, releasing-means'for said holding means carried by said nozzle, and adjustable means for determiningv the degree of rotation of said nozzle necessary to render said releasing means effective.

. 15. In a sprinkler apparatus, a dischargenozzle, a water motor, means for supplying water under pressure to said nozzle and motor, reducing gearing between said motor and nozzle whereby said motor will cause a slow rotary movement of said nozzle, a valve for shutting, ofi the flow of water in the system, .means for hold' said valve open,iand means associated said nozzle and rotatable therewith for releasing said holding means.

16. In a sprinkler apparatus, a discharge nozzle, a water motor, means for supplying. water under pressure to said nozzle and motor, reducing gearing between said motor and nozzle whereby said motor will cause a slow rotary movement of said nozzle, a valve for shutting off the flow of water to said nozzle arranged to be closed by thepressure of water in the system, means for holding said valve open, means associated with said nozzle and rotatable in unison therewith for releasing said holding means, and adjustable means for determining the degree of rotation of said nozzle necessary to render said releasing means efiective.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe FINIS E. ROACH.

Witnesses:

J. DAVID DICKINSON. OLIVER H. Pnmmwn.

1 my name this 23rd day of December, v1921. 

